10 CIDG officers axed over P18 million ‘hulidap’

MANILA, Philippines — Ten members of the police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) have been sacked from their posts and placed under restrictive custody for allegedly extorting P18 million from three people, including a Chinese national, in Tondo, Manila in February.

CIDG director Maj. Gen. Nicolas Torre III said yesterday the officers were assigned to the Southern Metro Manila field unit.

They were disarmed and detained at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center at Camp Crame.

“We will not tolerate wrongdoings of CIDG officers,” Torre said in a statement.

The CIDG officers are facing cases of kidnapping and serious illegal detention, unlawful arrest and planting of evidence.

The police Internal Affairs Service is also investigating the CIDG personnel for grave misconduct, conduct unbecoming of a police officer and neglect of duty.

Torre said the suspects raided a warehouse at First Tondo Complex on Feb. 17 and arrested a Chinese national and two Filipinos for alleged possession of unlicensed firearms.

The victims were brought to the CIDG’s Southern District office in Taguig where the police officers allegedly demanded P18 million in exchange for their release.

PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo said despite payment, the victims claimed that the CIDG officers herded them into a vehicle and transferred them to another area where guns were planted as evidence.

The victims were released after posting bail, which means criminal cases were filed against them.

A source who spoke on condition of anonymity said the police officers victimized other people using the “hulidap” scheme.

Meanwhile, Torre broke his silence on the cases of unlawful arrest and arbitrary detention filed against him by Rotchelle Calle before the Makati prosecutor’s office.

Torre said he and his men failed to attend the preliminary probe in April because they did not receive a copy of the subpoena.

Calle was allegedly arrested and detained by the CIDG in November last year based on a “photocopied” red notice from the Interpol.